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Al GlenewinkelAl Glenewinkel

A couple of years ago I was looking for something to do with my granddaughters. They love to build stuff like crafts and LEGOS so when I found Tinkertopia I knew it was just what we needed. I was planning on taking them during summer vacation when they came for a visit but then the lockdown happened. A few days ago we finally made it there. It’s an amazing place stuffed with thousands of items. Almost everything in the store is repurposed material. We brought in a couple of phones from our old office phone system. They seemed to appreciate them. We signed the girls up for a 90 minute session working at the tinker tables building whatever they could imagine from the materials available in the tinker area. There are also drills, saws, glue guns, pliers, scissors and many other tools. Ms Darcy took them around and showed them the different bins and boxes, several projects to inspire ideas, and how to ask for help if they needed to use one of the tools. Ms Darcy was very helpful and extremely patient with them. Once they got their projects going I took a tour around the retail area of the store. It is an amazing collection of truly unique and varied materials. The last few minutes of the time slot got a little frantic as the girls were rushing to complete their projects. They had a little trouble getting some of the materials to stick together with the hot glue guns. This set them both back a little but we helped them find alternative materials and they were able to finish. They had a great time and they are already talking about what they are going to build next time we go. Something about a rocket ship or a flying car. I highly recommend this business and we look forward to our next visit. Parking can be an issue when school is in session at the UW Campus. We went on a Saturday during summer break so there was paid street parking available. There is a 90 minute limit so you need to watch your time. I think there is a garage across the street at the museum but I’m not sure it’s available for general parking.

Cali ChestermanCali Chesterman

If you’re the kind of person that saves knick-knacks for undetermined future arts and crafts projects, Tinkertopia is for you. It floor to ceiling eyecandy junk, very much “one person’s trash is another’s treasure” kinda place.Picked up a bunch of janky electronic parts, plastic piping, broken acrylic, yarn, assorted screws, and widget-y pieces to glue together for making terrain pieces for tabletop games (Warhammer 40k, D&D, Frostgrave, Dracula’s America, etc.) My favorite part is that they have brown paper bags I could fill with assorted junk, so I was definitely able to find all the wonky pieces I needed for my sets - a doorknob here, pillars there, fencing, wires, plastic, beads, etc. etc. If you’ve ever been to a Lego store, it’s exactly like that. There’s a cute lil crafts nook where some kids were having a birthday party, that doesn’t interfere with shopping experience. Staff is super social and interested in the projects you’re working on - my friends nerded out when getting a chance to discuss their pet project. Highly recommend this place for anyone in a maker space, into terrain, dolls, knitting, or crafting materials. I spent about $20 here.

Brittini BrischleBrittini Brischle

Tinkertopia is an amazing quaint little place that every creative soul should experience at least once in their life. It’s a fantastic art re-use store with plenty to purchase to bring your imagination to life but even better is the 90 minute building sessions you can attend with your friends and family. There are so many tools and materials that you have at your disposal and only time and your imagination are your restrictions to build whatever you want! There are no instructions or guidance given other than some safety tips and they allow the entire time to build and create to your hearts content. I have never seen anything like this before and I am so incredibly happy we stumbled upon this place on my quick visit to the west side.

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Reviews of Tinkertopia , LLC.

4.8

(98)

5.0

3y

A couple of years ago I was looking for something to do with my granddaughters. They love to build stuff like crafts and LEGOS so when I found Tinkertopia I knew it was just what we needed. I was planning on taking them during summer vacation when they came for a visit but then the lockdown happened. A few days ago we finally made it there. It’s an amazing place stuffed with thousands of items. Almost everything in the store is repurposed material. We brought in a couple of phones from our old office phone system. They seemed to appreciate them. We signed the girls up for a 90 minute session working at the tinker tables building whatever they could imagine from the materials available in the tinker area. There are also drills, saws, glue guns, pliers, scissors and many other tools. Ms Darcy took them around and showed them the different bins and boxes, several projects to inspire ideas, and how to ask for help if they needed to use one of the tools. Ms Darcy was very helpful and extremely patient with them. Once they got their projects going I took a tour around the retail area of the store. It is an amazing collection of truly unique and varied materials. The last few minutes of the time slot got a little frantic as the girls were rushing to complete their projects. They had a little trouble getting some of the materials to stick together with the hot glue guns. This set them both back a little but we helped them find alternative materials and they were able to finish. They had a great time and they are already talking about what they are going to build next time we go. Something about a rocket ship or a flying car. I highly recommend this business and we look forward to our next visit. Parking can be an issue when school is in session at the UW Campus. We went on a Saturday during summer break so there was paid street parking available. There is a 90 minute limit so you need to watch your time. I think there is a garage across the street at the museum but I’m not sure it’s available for...